Hi all,
Just saying hello as I'm sure I'll be posting questions on here at some point! Just ordered a sun yellow A35 AMG with Premium Plus and Style packs, expected to be ready mid August, so got a while yet unfortunately.
Reading the positives and the negatives on this thread, few more negatives than I was hoping to see but not uncommon with modem cars now, just maybe expect more from a MB.
I currently have a Ford Focus RS mrk3 - anyone on here gone from one of these to an A35 they can share their experience of?
I test drove an A35 but unfortunately it only had 10 miles on the clock so I couldn't plant my foot! Nice drive, felt 'reasonably' fast at that rev range with a nice enough sound in Sport+. The interior sells it for me, especially coming from a Focus RS where the interior is terrible. I understand from reviews this car pulls harder from higher revs? I'm expecting it to be very similar to my RS, in the Carwow drag race there's little between all the hot hatches really.
Can I ask as well, while the car I drove (a brand new undriven car) sounded ok in Sport+ the sound is its weakest point in my opinion, the note from my Focus RS without question continued to improve right into 2.5-3,000 mile range, getting louder and grittier. Will the A35 exhaust do this? Do cars with miles on the clock sound better?
Thanks,
Will
With the WLTP changes think most brands will have a more compromised note - Personally think the A35 AMG note sounds ok, but it subjective and I lean away from raucous to more deep and meaningful in tone.
My Golf R 100% improved in tone as the miles were added, its now a nice deep tone when placed in race.
I am actually pleasantly surprised with the initial ownership feedback having been an early adopter myself previously on other marque as its nothing unusual, some software updates and some trim and build issues - as feedback comes back from the dealers and updates are made in the production process the car invariably improves.
The Golf is in its 7th year of cycle and has proven to be a very solid and reliable model overall but early days were not too dissimilar.
In a drag race there might be finite differences in which car gets over the line first, due to a slower start, but on UK roads, 300 BHP and AWD experience will be pretty much the same
I looked hard at the A35 AMG hence here to comment and think its a really good stab by MB to hit this demographic and it was just overall cost and the thinking that firstly the last evolved version of the Golf R was still the better fit for me, and then latterly the Golf TCR with its BHP increase and other adds that tempted me to the heritage of the GTI. It was now or never really.
know I am giving up the AWD but hoping for same pace on the move as used to in the R and maybe some more lightness, engagement as though the R has great pace it can due to the weight of the AWD feel a heavy planted lump at times - TCR is 100 kg lighter.
Also worked out cheaper than going back to an R, and much cheaper than selecting the A35 AMG and I will even get some pounds back in fuel economy (not that any of us ever select these cars with that in mind)
Have had a personal bonus as VW have raised the price of the MY20 by £2350 to include the Akrapovich exhaust and as mine is an October delivery I will be getting that as a freebie now
I like all the colours on the A35 AMG and would likely have gone for the monsoon grey with Aero Pack (which is a must) and yours is a great spec though do have concern you not mentioned the adaptive dampers, which would be my first choice over everything.
Given the way the MK 8 is going and the likely evolution of the A35 AMG I can definitely see myself coming back to it 3 years from now.